White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism Paperback – June 26, 2018

Whew!!! Well where do I start? God Bless Dr. D'Angelo! My opinion is that several of the sad small comments were as if not more interesting than the book. Many commenters proved your exact point 1000%. I'm confident you have grown solid steel skin. A little about my life as I feel you research running thr3 my veins. I'm a babyboomer of the 50's. I can relate 100% to your research to the point as if I was the laboratory specimen/rat with tears in the research and development of your book. I was born into a family of successful east coast musicians (son of a DC musical scholar, writer, composer, big band director, former 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and lead trumpeter for Duke Ellington, Cab Callaway, Hal Davis and others and directed band throughout the US) - I was initially introduced to the forces of racism (FOR) at the tender age 10 after forced by city zoning law (Color of Law) to integrate into a all white school at the 5th grade; where I could understand the hate toward me but i endured and made stsrting positions on the school's baseball and football teams but denied membership before the first game and removed from the team due to the Boys Club of _____'s segregation policy; years later forced into a majority white student body high school and played junior and varsity football, wrestled, ran track and offered a sports scholarship. My abilities on the football, track, and wrestling practice sessions were recognized and constantly praised by coaches, however as one of 5 non- white players on my team and non- white humans present in the entire stadium during games causes me or others to never become starters. Later in the military I excelled in physical training, testing, academics GPA and maximum scores on test and marksmanship however the FOR appeared daily for over 20 years of military service from the day of enlistment entrance at the lowest rank in my military speciality field to senior leader on 3 continents and 3 wars leading hundreds of soldiers. I acquited 3 degrees from well known universities during my military career. Subsequently to military retirement the FOR appeared very often over the next 20 as a member of a very well known federal agency representing the US Constitution and Laws. Almost everyday from 1993 to 2016 I was reminded of FOR. I am happy to have had the pleasure and blessings to have read and shared this research phenomenon with my love ones of several races. I'm blessed to have a very diverse circle of family and friends throughout the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Dr D'Angelo I feel the blood and tears through my veins in your words and Youtube video. It took me back to the ability to recall and see the named and faced of hatreds since my first experience in 1965. Since Linda Hervieux's book about the untold story of the black soldiers of D-Day Invasion of WWII that acknowledged my father, uncles, and their friends of stories in my home of their WWII experiences, discrimination and pain when I was of 5th grade aged which I didn't understand and they were in their 50s and 60s. I now understand your maxtrix of the system the Forefathers, William Lynch and others established institutional structures during the infancy through The Reconstruction of America. I'm a proud father and grandfather who's often asked questions by my children about my military and law enforcement career. I often tell them "I was a proud soldier. Not because of the 52 medals and awards listed on my DD-214 or hung on my walls; but I was that which many did not want to be. A Soldier, born and raised as an American. Your and Linda's covers a legacy of the men and women in my family's history from 1919 until today. Thank you and may God Bless you and your family. Thank you for your service. You and Linda deserve the Medal of Freedom for you many years of research to make this world a better place. You're a decorated soldier. My weapon was weapons of war. Your is you mind and intellect (Ph'd.) Thank you Doctor. You are a HERO!!!

I had heard quite a bit about this book, both positive and negative. I decided I needed to read it for myself, both to educate myself on the topic of systemic racism and to form my own opinion of the book.I found the book to be both challenging and enlightening. The author definitely challenges white readers to change our perspective on systemic racism in America and the role we play in that system.In reading the first half of the book, I was troubled a bit by DiAngelo's terminology and word usage. She uses terms such as "racism" and "white supremacy" differently from their more common usages. She is careful to explain her usage and definitions. However, it still took a bit of getting used to.I was also a bit troubled that her terminology seems intended to make her primary intended audience, white Americans, uncomfortable. However, by the time I finished the book I realized DiAngelo does this on purpose because she sees discomfort as an essential step for most white Americans to begin changing our racial paradigm and begin developing stamina for discussing racial topics without reverting to familiar defensive tactics.Reading this book also helped me better understand some past conversations I found confusing. It is always easier to communicate when all participants understand the terminology being used.I feel I also have a better understanding of some of the harsh critiques of this book. Not only is the book intentionally uncomfortable for most white Americans to read, but it also uses terminology differently from common usages. The result is it would be really easy for a reader to take offense... and equally easy to grab a quote out of context that comes across as having a completely different meaning from the author's intent.Now for some discussion of what the book does not do:1. It does not promote a socialist agenda.2. It does not advocate for financial reparations.3. It does not mention the phrase "Critical Race Theory."4. It makes no mention whatsoever of capitalism.5. It is neither un-American nor anti-American.6. It is not opposed to sound Christian doctrine, nor to the Gospel, nor to the Bible.7. It is not divisive.8. It does not seek to make white Americans feel guilty for things done by our ancestors.On the contrary, the whole point of the book is to help white Americans better understand systemic racism and our role in that system, so we can begin to learn to do better at a personal level. I found the message of this book quite compatible with the commandment of Jesus Christ to love others as He has loved us.DiAngelo displays both humility and hope in how she shares personal stories of her own experiences and struggles.DiAngelo is an educator by profession. Her book is very educational. And her vision for reducing inequities of systemic racism is through education.I highly recommend this book to anyone (especially white Americans) who would like to learn more about systemic racism and our roles in those systems, as well as how we can begin to do better.I would caution any white reader to read this book with a teachable attitude, prepared to learn. If approached from a position of arrogance, you will likely just come away frustrated and angry.

Wow, well researched and well written. Clear. Loved it. I highly recommend.